BUZZ SODEMAN MORE COLUMNS Advertisement

I like sitting in the stands of the Pahrump Valley Speedway.

There are always rumors and conjecture swirling around, almost as many as in the pits. Rumors in the pits are about as long lived as the "dust devils" that punctuate our landscape on a daily basis. Here are some of the best.

Rumor: Mohave Valley Raceway is for sale for $600,000, $200,000 down and $3,000 per month payments. The truth, no the track isn't for sale after speaking to promoter Walt Carter, who probably almost fell off his couch when I called and asked him about the viability of what I had heard.

Rumor: Terri Little will be driving Mike Lysinger's mini stock. The truth, Terri and her husband, Corey, are sitting in the stands, enjoying the races and sipping on some beers. Terri has sold her mini stock to Michael Brown, that's a fact, and is preparing a super stock. She will be behind the wheel of the black No. 4 in coming weeks. So where is Mike Lysinger, who claimed his first feature win one race ago?

An interview with the one-time semi-professional ball player led to this statement. "I am no longer associated with Done Rite Auto nor am I associated with Joe Rogers Jr. I am building my own racecar and if I'm not banned from the track, I will be there in the next couple of weeks." I hope this answers the questions that were posed to me by some of his many fans.

Rumor: Rogers must be mad at me because he had someone taking pictures from the infield and the "grip and grin" trophy pictures. The truth, I don't know if Rogers is upset with me or not; as of now, to my knowledge, I haven't been banned. We haven't had any reason to speak in weeks. As to who that other photographer was, I have no idea nor do I care. I never was the "official" track photographer nor did I want to be.

Like I said at the beginning of this column, I like sitting in the stands, that is until the last race when my shirt became, first a door mat for some young girl's feet and then her brother's hand towel. All the while their father appeared as unconcerned as the parents of the kids who play in the dirt and throw rocks at each other. At least they aren't disturbing those of us that are at the track to watch the races.

If that wasn't enough, one of the clan that apparently accompanied this "racing fan" to the races decided that no one behind him wanted or needed to see the action on the track. He stood up, massaging his significant other's shoulders during the middle of one of the races.

I politely asked him, "Could you please sit down?" My response was greeted with a look that would have wilted a mesquite tree; then he moved a little to my left, still blocking my view of turns three and four.

Finally he sat down, maybe it had something to do with me commenting that I would be sure to put this in the paper - although I doubt seriously that he either reads or purchases the paper.

Seriously, it is fun to sit in the stands. I learned that one of the people that always shares that spot in the bleachers with me used to run a wheel-standing drag car at Tri-City Dragway in Saginaw, Mich., when I was serving as the starter at the now-defunct track.

I get to see the former Cama Morris, with her brood of three children plus three others in tow, making them behave and "toe the line."

I would get to see Cama when I was a substitute teacher, along with her mother, Wanda, who served as one of the security people at the high school. I get to see another one of those students, Mrs. Frank Bridwell, and her new little one. I photographed April when she participated in the high school track and field running events for the Valley Observer.

Being able to get a hug and a kiss from Levi Kiefer's wife, Casey and a growl from their Chihuahua named Coyote. There's always a chance to have a meaningful conversation with Michelle Rogers and a hug as well and to see her daughter, Lindsay.

There is certainly more "eye candy" on the spectator side of the track than in the pits on most occasions, as well as, several racers who have showed up at the track recently. For those of you that remember, Harry Anderson has been seen at a couple of the races. Anderson ran a super stock at Mohave Valley Raceway and Pahrump Valley Speedway, until he brought out a Flexi-flyer IMCA modified. His daughter, Wendy Dolejs, ran a Street Stock at both tracks also.

Do you remember the Turtle Racing team? Back in the '90s, this bunch of fellows would make the "trek over the hump" to race at PVS. There was John Jewell, a past track champion at what was then, the Bob Ruud Memorial Speedway and then PVS.

John and his wife, Sharon, were seen at the track on Saturday evening. Levi Kiefer was part of this team along with Donovan Allison, Mark Allison and Anthony DeBiase.

I had an opportunity to speak to Ray Elam and he is coming out with a Modified that he feels has the power to compete against some of the young guns and old veterans. "No more small motors. I think I can still compete. I'm a racer and I want to give it another shot with equipment that is comparable to what the other drivers are running."

Elam has been a fixture behind dirt late models, Dwarf cars, and IMCA modifieds.

I also learned from a conversation in the pits with Mark Allison, that long time Late Model driver and Modified pilot, Apple Valley, CA's Bob Forster Jr. was at the races a couple of weeks ago. Forster campaigned at both MVS and PVS. I guess you know you're old when you enjoy reminiscing about the action many years in the past. I also enjoyed the opportunity to share some time with a group of mini stock drivers after Saturday's races.

Happy belated Birthday wishes are in order for Jonathan Burch; congratulations on your graduation from PVHS.

This column is dedicated to the following spectators; Lori; Deborah (a member of Tooley's pit crew); the couple originally from South Africa and their daughter, Jim Nixon and his ex-wife who always say "Hi," the rest of the crew that sit on or near the north end of the bleachers and who always compliment me on my stories.

Thanks for your support.